This week
Miss Hoschton Scarecrow Pageant, Hoschton. Today, Towne Center, Hoschton. Part of the Hoschton Fall Festival.
Pie bake-off and family movie night, Flowery Branch. Pie judging and tasting, 7 p.m.; outdoor movie, dusk Friday. The Springs Church, 6553 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch. 770-335-9073.
Grace-Calvary Heritage Festival, Clarkesville. Scarecrow competition, parade, "Just a Taste" hors d'oeuvres reception, artists and live music. Friday-Sunday, Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church, 260 E. Green St., Clarkesville. $10 to enter a scarecrow. Benefits youth mission trips. 706-754-7114.
Foxfire Fall Heritage Festival, Dillard. Arts and crafts, demonstrations, games, live music. Benefits Foxfire's student programs in Rabun County. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dillard City Hall, downtown Dillard. $4 adults, $2 ages 6-10, free for age 5 and younger. 706-746-5828 or foxfire@foxfire.org.
Cruising in the Country car and truck show, Gainesville. Bake sale, breakfast and lunch available. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Chestatee Elementary School, 6945 Keith Bridge Road, Gainesville. $20 per entry.
National Alpaca Farm Days, Hoschton. Hat and needle felting, spinning, face painting, ice cream, inflatables and tours. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Gilliland's Heritage Alpacas, 1641 Dee Kennedy Road, Hoschton. 770-601-7376.
Gainesville Middle School open house, Gainesville. Reunion of former employees and students after school tours. 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Gainesville Middle School, 1581 Community Way, Gainesville.
Upcoming
Maysville Autumn Leaf Festival, Maysville. Parade and vendors. Oct. 2-4, downtown Maysville.
Cumming Country Fair and Festival, Cumming. Rides, Heritage Village and concerts. 4 to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday Oct. 8-18. Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road, Cumming. $7 adults, $3 ages 5-18, free for age 4 and younger; advance tickets, $5 adults, $2 ages 5-18; $3 parking. 770-781-3491.
Mule Camp Market, Gainesville. Vendors, artists, food and live music. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10, noon-5 p.m. Oct. 11, downtown Gainesville square. Concerts 7-11 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10.
Southern Tree Plantation, Blairsville. Pumpkins, hayrides, petting farm, crafts, maze, pony rides and marshmallow roast. Noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays Oct. 9-Nov. 1, Southern Tree Plantation, 2581 Owltown Road, Blairsville. 706-754-0601.
Cherokee in Northeast Georgia, Gainesville. Family Sunday. Learn what life was like for the Cherokee before the Trail of Tears. 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 11, Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St., Gainesville. $5 per family for nonmembers, free for members. 770-297-5900 or jcarson@brenau.edu.
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Hiawassee. Arts and crafts, demonstrations, Georgia State Fiddlers' Convention and other live music. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays Oct. 9-17; Fiddlers' Convention, Oct. 17. Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee. $9 adults, age 9 and younger free; $2 parking. No pets allowed. 706-896-4191 or gamtnfair@windstream.net.
Gold Rush Festival, Dahlonega. Arts and crafts, parade, hog calling and buck dancing contests, live music and children's activities. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 17-18, downtown Dahlonega square. Free. 706-864-7247 or 800-231-5543.
Dawson County Moonshine Festival, Dawsonville. Crafts, food, live music, children's activities, parade and car show. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 24-25, downtown Dawsonville square. Free. 877-302-9271.
Nightfall Halloween Festival, Gainesville. Kids can learn about nocturnal creatures, see live animals, do crafts and listen to stories. Oct. 24 and 30, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $3 Elachee members, $5 nonmembers. 770-535-1976.
Ongoing
Maize Quest, Alto. "Georgia grown"-themed cornfield maze. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 14. Flashlight nights, dusk to 10 p.m. beginning Sept. 12, Jaemor Farm, 5340 Ga. 365, Alto. $8 adults, $7 ages 4-7, free for children age 3 and younger. $5 hayride. 770-869-3999.
North Georgia Corn Maze, Cleveland. Corn maze, hay rides, movie screenings and the Dungeon of Fear. Maze, 4 to 10 p.m. Thursdays, 4 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 22; Dungeon of Fear, 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. various days Saturday-Nov. 7; movies throughout season each Friday and Saturday at dark. North Georgia Corn Maze, 559 Tom Bell Road, Cleveland. Maze, $9-$10; Dungeon of Fear, $14-$15; hayride, $4-$5. 800-959-1874 or info@northgacornmaze.com.
"Tools for Living," Sautee. Exhibit of tools used to sustain early valley inhabitants. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Sautee Nacoochee Community Association History Museum, 283 Ga. 255 N, Sautee. 706-878-3300.
Story times, Hall County. Children can listen to stories, sometimes read by special guests. Various days and times at libraries in the Hall County Library System. Free.
"Waters of Time: The Chicopee Woods Story," Gainesville. Learn about previous eras and inhabitants of Chicopee Woods. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturdays, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $3 adults, $2 children ages 2-12, age 1 and younger and members free. 770-535-1976.